Electric fire alarm



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. HILL.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM.

PatentedMdr. 25, 1884.-

N. PETERS. PhMo-Lillwgrnplmr. Wasllinglnn. 0.6.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. HILL.

ELECTRIC FIRE "ALARM.

No. 295,759. Patented Mar. 25, 1884.

N. PETEnS. Pholoulhngmphcr, Washington. D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

' J. HILL.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM.

N0.'Z95,759. Patented Mar. 25, 1884.

mizmses. I 7779Z07 Ji n jlil l,

1:115 Phowlithogmphen 'vlishm wn. n. c,

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JOHN HILL, OF'OOLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

ELECTRIC FIRE-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,759, dated March 25, 188%.

Application filed May 22,1583. N0 model) To all whom, it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JOHN HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Muscogee and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Fire-Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic fire-alarm apparatus, wherein an electric circuit is closed by the heat generated by the conflagration and the alarm sounded, and the position of the fire indicated at one or more distant points.

My invention consists in a series of devices located at different points for automatically closing the electric circuit by means of the fu-L sion of a plug formed of a composition of metals, in combination with an indicating-- dial showing the location of the point from which the alarm is given, and one or more gongs set in motion or sounded by the closing of the circuit, the entire series of devices being arranged in one principal circuit; secondly, in an automatic circuit-closer, in which the contacts are normally pressed toward each other by a spring, the circuit being permanently interrupted by a fusible plug, which holds said spring out of contact until the plug melts; third, in a circuit-closer, the parts co1nposing the same being arranged within a sealed case having but a single opening thereto, which is closed by a fusible plug, said case being insulated or made of non-conducting material; fourth, in a statiouclock having an indicating-dial displaying the name or number of those locations where the alarmcircuit closers are placed, and a hand traversing said dial, with devices for arresting said hand at the point corresponding with and bearing the name of thc.locality from which the alarm is given; fifth, in the combination, in a single circuit, of a series of alarm circuit-closers, one or more station -'clocks indicating the locality from which the alarm is given, and an alarm gong or gongs actuated by the closing of the circuit, said gong being continuously sounded by a local battery having its circuit closed'by a relay in the primary circuit; sixth, in the combination, with an automatic alarm, of a circuit-closing apparatus wholly inclosed within a box or case, which is sealed by a fusible plug exposed to the action of heat generated by fire, and by the fusion of which the circuit is made and the alarm given; seventh, in a fusible plug for sealing the case inelosing the automatic circuit-closer, said plug being composed of a composition of lead, tin, cadmium, and mercury in the proportions substantially as hereinafter described, whereby I obtain fusion at points very much below those heretofore attained, and also am enabled to determine the point of fusion with accuracy; eighth, in the arrangement, in a single circuit, of any desired number of automatic circuit-closers by means of a looped or split wire, whereby different floors of the same building, orldiflbrent localities within the same district may be fully supplied with the alarm apparatus without multiplying the circuits; ninth, in such novel features of construction and combinations and sub-combinations of parts as are hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of the mechanism of the station-clock. Fig. 3is a front elevation of the parts composing the fire-indicator clock, which is a modification of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 4 is a front elevation of Fig. 3, the dial of the clock being attached. Figs. 5 and (S are respectively a side and front elevation of a dctached part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 7 and 8 are a side and a front elevation of the disk shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

.tion of Fig. 10, showing the circuit open. Fig.

12 is a similar section, showing the circuit closed. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the inclosing-case, shown in Figs. 11 and 12, inverted. Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17 are plan and side elevat-ions, respectively, of the electric connections contained within the casing. Fig. 18 is Fig.

a diagram, showing the arrangement within a single circuit of a series of automatic alarms, together with the fire-indicator clock, and the alarm-gong interposed in the same circuit, a relay and secondary battery being shown interposed in the main circuit and having an electric vibratorbcll in thelocal circuit. Fig.

19 is a side elevation, and Fig. 20 a plan, of

the relay, with local battery, shown in Fig. 18.

The same letters of reference refer to the same parts in all the figures.

B in said drawings indicates a battery of the usual form, and N and Ithe wires connectedwith thepoles of the same. These wires may be carried over one or more iloors of a building in the manner shown in the diagram-as, for example, upon the first floor a single loop, 1, maybe formed, connecting with the main wires N I, amlhaving one, two, six, or more automatic circuit-closers, 0, arranged at any desired points, each having eleetricconneetions with the wires, in the manner described hereinafter. For the second lloor a second loop, 2, is carried over the points where it is necessary to place the automatic alarms, and a similar arrangement, 3, may supply the third floor, while for the more distant door a branch, 4;, of the main wires may be used. Any desired number of the automatic circuitclosers C may be interposed in the circuit or in each of the loops, each instrument being properly connected with the two wires, so that when the circuit is closed at any one of said points the electric connection is complete. This being the first step toward the accomplislr ment of the result proposed, Iwill describe the construction and operation of the automatic circuit-closer or local alarm. apparatus before proceeding to other parts of the mechanism.

This device, which is shown in Figs. 10 to 13, lnclusive, consists of an outer box or casing, a, with its open side lying upon a foundation or bed-plate, a, to which it is securely fast-- ened,whereby said casing is completely closed, with the exception of a single opening in the top of said casing, which is adapted to receive the fusible plug a, At one end of said casing, and arranged longitudinally therewith, I attach a flat strip of conducting metal, L, having a platinum contact-point, 5 near one end, which extends within the casing a, and being firmly secured to the bed or back a bymeans of a screw, 21, which also serves as a bindingpost for the circuit-wire c. The plate L may be provided withperforationsto receivescrews, whereby it is fastened to the upper casing, a, in which construction the single screw 1) will serve to attach said casing to its back or sup port a, as shown in Fig. 11. At the opposite end of said casing, and in the same longitudinal line with the strip L, is placed an elastic conducting-strip, K, attached to said casing and to the back piece, a, in a manner similar to that already described in connection with the strip L, and having a contact-point, (Z, which is so arranged that when the strip K is allowed to assume its natural position said contact will rest upon the contact The second circuit-wire,c,is connected with the strip K by means of the binding-post b, which also serves to hold the casing afirnilyin place upon its back piece a. Screws may also be passed through the latter into the casing a," in order to make a close jointbetween the two and prevent the entrance of dust, the presence of which should be avoided in all apparatus of this class.

In the top of the case a, and directly inline with the conducting-strips K L, is placed an annulus, IV, which may be made of any suit able material, that I prefer being a copper disk having its center removed so as to leave an opening about one-eighth of an inch in diameter. This annulus is inserted within a recess in the casing, and is cemented in place. An opening is also formed in the case a concentric with that in the annulus W, but of larger diameter. It will be noticed that the end of the strip K projects some little distance beyond the contact-point d, and upon the upper face of this projecting end is mounted a cylindrical projection, Y, small enough to enter the opening in the casing, but too large to pass through that in the annulus IV. The contact-points d and 9 being separated by raising the elastic strip K the projection Y is forced up into the aperture in the case a and against the lower face of the annulus -W. \Vhile in this position a drop of solder, .r, is allowed to fall into the opening in the annulus, through which it passes until it comes in eontact with the projection Y, to which it attaches. This solder plug upon becoming solid, as it ,does almost instantaneously, securely holds the strip 1i in the position shown in Fig. 11, thereby keeping the circuit permanently brokenat that point. \Vhenever said plug is fused, however, the projection Y is released, and the elasticity of the strip K immediately brings the contact-point (1 down upon the point 9, thereby closing the circuit and giving the alarm in the manner hereinafter described. Attention is called to the fact that the application of the solder plug a; seals the casing a, tightly closing the only aperture left therein after it is applied to the back piece, a.

The solder plug a: is made of a combination of various metals, the object thereof being that it shall fuse at comparatively-low temperature, ranging from to 2l2 lzahrenheit. I-Ieretofore a composition has been used consisting of lead, tin, and cadmium, which would melt at to Fahrenheit, and in locali ties where fushion is not required at lower temperatures I use the same. In many places, however, a much lower fusion-point is desirable, ranging, as already mentioned, as low as 120 Fahrenheit. For the latter temperature I use a composition consisting of the several metals named above with a small portion of mercury, and thereby obtain a solder which will readily fuse at temperatures far below any composition heretofore made and used for this purpose-viz., 120 to 140 Fahrenheit. The quantity of mercury employed depends upon the point at which fusion is required, the greater the proportion thereof the lower being the point of fusion. Besides the circuit at each of the automatic closers, it is necessary, of course, that it should be broken in each loop, as well as in the main line, at some point IIO s time be tested, in order to ascertain if it is in proper running order. This device 0011- sists merely of a key, 2 by turning which from one contact, 0 to the other, 0 the circuit is closed upon that particular branch. This test has no bearing upon the operation of the circuit-closers C, but is for the purpose of testing the station-gongs and fire-indicator clocks, which I will now proceed to describe. For the first of these purposes viz., to in dicate the fact that the circuit has closed-I may use either an alarm-gong, G, placed in the main-circuit, as shown in Fig. 18, said gong being ofordinary construction, or I may place a relay, B, in said circuit, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the local battery being shown at L B, having connections with a common electric vibratory bell. The moment the main circuit is closed the magnet M of the relay attracts its armature, thereby closing the circuit from the local battery and setting the vibratory bell in operation, and continuing to sound it as long as the current flows over the main line. In some instances it may be desired to prolong the action of this call, and, in such an event, I place an armature-lever, Z, Fig. 19, upon a horizontal support, 8, having its upper edge notched or toothed, and upon the end of the armature-lever Z is pivoted a pawl, P, which engages with the notches in the arms 8 and holds the armature against the magnet permanently until the detent is raised and the local circuit thereby broken.

The fire-alarm gong, already mentioned and shown at G, Fig. 18, is actuated by clockgearing, which is set in motion by a spring, and continues until the tension of said spring is exhausted. The gong is started by the closing of the circuit, which animates an electro-magnet, which, attracting its armature, releases a detent and allows the spring to act. The entire device, being of the ordinary and well-known construction, requires no special illustration or description.

Having thus provided means for automatically closing the electric circuit at any one of a number of points, and for sounding the alarm in the manner described, it is necessary, by the same current and simultaneously with the operation heretoforeset forth, to indicate the exact location of the circuit-closer from which the alarm comes. For this purpose I use the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which I term a station-clock. This device consists of a clock-escapement and gears, actuated by a strong spring, in which A is a disk attached to the spindle ofthe one-minute wheel A,which latter receives motion from the gear A which is moved in turn by a coiled spring wound in the usual manner upon a post, p. I prefer that the arrangement shall be such c that the diskAshall make one complete revolution in one minute of time; but it is evident that this period may be increased or dimin- 7o ished by a simple alteration in the gearing. The face of the disk A is divided into twelve equal parts, as shown in Fig. 8, and opposite some one of the said divisionsas, for exam-- ple, the tenth-a notch, II, is formed in the periphery of the disk. Upon the frame F, which supports the gearing, is pivoted abellcrank lever, B, having a tooth, J, upon its end, which rests upon the periphery of said disk A, and being acted upon by a spring, 0, which, when said notch II comes beneath the tooth, will cause the latter to engage therewith and arrest the motion of the disk. A circuit-wire, 0, is attached near the lower end of the lever B by means of a binding-post, and near the extremity a contact-point is placed, which rests upon a corresponding point, T, the latter being connected with the electro magnet GR, (seen in Figs. 1 and 2,) the circuit being thus made between the lever B and the magnet G at the point T so long as the tooth J rides upon the periphery of the disk A. The movement of the gearing is arrested permanently by means of a detent-lever, D, pivoted to the frame F in such manner that its tooth a" engages with the gear-tecth of the one-minute wheel, said detent being normally held in the position described by a spring, D. To the lower end of said lever D, which projects belowthe pivoted point, is attached the armature E of the electro-inagnet G'".

In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the disk A is attached to a smaller disk, 8, placed behind it. This disk 8 has upon its face a single pin, 1), which engages with one of the twelve apertures in the disk A, which apertures indi cate the twelve equal parts into which its face is divided, each part being equivalent in the movement of the clock-gearing to a period of five seconds. In whichever one of these said apertures the pin 1) may be placed it determines the number of these five-second periods which will pass before the slot H will engage the tooth J and stop the clock, at the same time breaking the circuit at the point T. The station-clock is started by the closing of the circuit, which animates the magnet G causing it to attract its armature E, thereby releasing the detent, which arrests the one-minute gear. The disk A will then revolve until it is arrested by the lever B, in the manner already described. I place one of these station-clocks in each of the four loops 1 2 3 4, or branches from the main wires N P, and in each disk A eleven locations for fires can be indicated. For the first, the clock would run five seconds and then stop at the five-second aperture, which is numbered 1. For the second loop, the clock would run ten seconds and stop at the second aperture, &c.

At the point where it is desired to sound the fire-alarm I use another device, which I term the fire-indicator clock, which is a clock-work and movements similar to that already described in connection with the stationclock, excepting as to slight modifications in attachments. I11 the latter apparatus the disk A of the station-clock is not used, and in its place I substitute the clock-hand If, as shown in Fig. at. This hand is arranged to move over a clock-face, which is, like the disk A, divided into twelve or any other number of equal parts, each displaying the name of some point where oneof the circuit-closers is located. In this apparatus I use an electro-magnct similar to that shown at G Fig. 1, together with a similar detent and armature, with tensionspring, to arrest permanently the movement of the gearing. I dispense, however, with the bellcrank lever B and its attachments, and connect the circuit-wires directly to the electro magnet in circuit.

The action of the fire-indicator clock is simultaneous with and governed by that of the station-clock. lVhen any one of the automatic circuit-closers makes the circuit, and thereby releases the detent D in the station-clock shown in Fig. 1, the same closed circuit acting upon a similar eleetro-magnet and detent in the lireindicator clock sets it in motion at the same instant, and the hand L begins traversing the clockdaee. The two-that is, the disk A in the station-clock and the index L in the lireindicator elock will then travel together until the stop J in the former engages with the notch H in disk A, which will break the circuit at T, destroy the attraction of the electromag net in both the devices, and will, in each, allow the spring D to throw the detent D into engagement with the one-minute gear, thereby stopping both at the same instant of time. The division upon the clock-face at which the index-hand stops will name the location of the fire, as the markings thereon are made to correspond with the relative arrangement of the slots II in the disks A of the several station-clocks. For example, the station-clock set for five seconds is the one which will indicate fire in the piekerroom, the ten-second clock is indicated as being in the cotton-warehouse, &c.

It often happens that other alarms besides the gong, vibrator bell, &c., may be required, and it is often desirable to place such auxiliary alarms in several different localities be sides the one near the indicator-clock. For this purpose more than one electro-mechanical gong may be used, and, if necessary, more than one indicator-clock. In the same manner more than one local battery may be employed,

with a relay interposed in the primary circuit,

so that, if desired, an alarm of this nature may be arranged at a lire-engine house, or carried to a private residence. In the same connection a fire-indicator clock may be placed in connection therewith at either or both of said places.

The apparatus may, from time to time, be tested in the manner already described by means of the instruments I. After such test, as well as after the sounding of an alarm from one of the circuit-closers, the clock-springs must be rewound and the catches of the station-clocks, as well as the hands of the the indicator clocks, must be reset. The stationclocks are reset by loosening a set-screw, It, which binds the sleeve of the disk A to the gearspindle, and turning said disk back to the zero-point.

\Vhere only one locality for a fire is to bcirr dicated, or in places where locations are easily determined, the station-clocks, as well as the fire-indicator clocks, may be dispensed with and the lire-alarm gong or the electric vibrator bell, or both, may be usedin connection with the alarm circuit-closers.

It should be noted that it is by no means essential that the fire-indicator dial shall revolve one revolution in one minute of time. It may be caused to revolve in a longer or shorter period, and may also be divided into more or less than twelve equal parts; but in both respects the statioirclocks and the fire-indicator clock must correspond with each other in order to obtain accurate results. \Vhere an annunciator is already in use or can be more conveniently used, I will attach my circuit closers to the wires of an annunciator for closing a circuit and sounding an alarm, the station-clocks and iire -indicator clocks being omitted in such an arrangement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with wires composing a single circuit, of one or more branch wires connected therewith, a series of automatic cir cuit-closers located at different points in the main or in the branch wires, a station-clock located in each branch, and an indicator-clock located at the pointwhere the alarm is sounded, both set in motion by the making of the circuit, and arranged to have equal movement, the in dex-hand-of the latter being arrested by the breaking of the circuitin the stationclock, substantially as described.

2. A stationclock for automatic electric firealarms, consisting of a train of clock-gearing comprising a one-minute gear, the whole being actuated by a spring and governed by the ordinary escapement, a disk divided into 'equal parts and having a notch in its periphery opposite one of said parts, a spring-actuated lever resting upon the periphery of said disk and making the circuit while in that position, but breaking it upon engaging with the notch in the disk, at detent-lever, which engages with and arrests the one-minute gear, and an electro-magnct, by which, when the circuit is made at any point upon the line, the armature of said detent is attracted and the gearing released, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the gear A and disk A, having a notch, H, of the spring-actuated lever B, having electrical contact at T, the spring-actuated detent I), having an armature, F, and the magnet G", substantially as described.

at. A firc-indicator clock consisting of an IOO index mounted upon the spindle of the oneminute hand, a train of clock-gearing driven by a spring, a spring-actuated detent-lever engaging with said gearing, an electro-magnet energized by the closing of the circut and attracting an armature on said lever, thereby releasing the gearing, and electrical connections with a station-clock having similar and simultaneous movement, and provided with means for breaking the circuit after a predetermined portion of a revolution has been made, whereby the magnet in the indicatorclock releases the spring-detent which arrests the gearing at the instant of breaking the circuit and simultaneously with the stopping of the station-clock, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the wires N P, of the branches 1 2 3, &c., in each of which are arranged a series of automatic circuit-closers, a device at the terminals of each branch, whereby the circuit may be broken or made at pleasure and a suitable alarm placed in circuit at any desired point, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the disk A, having a notch, H, in its periphery, and the springactuated lever B, having its end resting upon the disk and completing the circuit, with an electro-magnet, G while in said position, said circuit being broken and the disk arrested by the engagement of the lever with the notch H, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the station-clock having disk A, provided with notch H, and

the spring-actuated lever B, of the fire-indi cator clock having an index mounted upon the spindle of the one-minute gear, a springactuated detent-lever engaging with said gear, and an electro-magnet, which, when energized,

attracts the armature upon said lever and re- 40 leases the gear, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the wires N P, having a series of automatic circuit-closers interposed at various points, of a relay in the primary circuit, a vibratory bell actuated by the relay-battery, the armature-lever of the relay being provided with a detent-pawl and mounted upon a notched arm, whereby it 18 held in engagement with the magnet, and the secondry circuit remains completed after the JOHN HILL. [n s] Witnesses E. P. BENNETT, G. GUNBY JORDAN. 

